BOOK REVIEW: A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley

 Jane Smiley’s most recent novel is A Dangerous Business. 

The backstory: Eliza was given to Peter Cargill, a man twice her age, by parents concerned she was interested in a young Irish Catholic. Peter packed her up, took her away from her home in Kalamazoo, and moved to Monterey. This was in the mid 1850s and he thought he would make his fortune in California. He was cruel and violent, used her as a servant, and, fortunately for Eliza, was soon killed in a bar fight.

The story: Relieved to be free of him, the still very young Eliza is approached by Mrs. Parks, one of the local brothel owners. Curious and in need of funds, Eliza takes up a career as a prostitute. She finds the job suits her well. The madam is kind, fair, and does all she can to keep the women safe. The men, for the most part, are no trouble. Certainly better than Peter was.

Mrs. Parks discourages friendships between her employees to ward off gossiping. But one day, Eliza meets a prostitute from a different establishment, one that caters to women. Jean impresses Eliza with her independence. Jean changes identities easily, from female to male, young to old. For the first time in her life, Eliza has a friend. 

The two start spending time together and discover a mutual enjoyment of the detective stories of Edgar Allan Poe. When two other local prostitutes disappear and no one seems to care, Eliza and Jean investigate on their own.

Eliza had been a fairly uncomplicated, trusting person. Now she begins to suspect everyone. She evaluates her customers in a different light. It’s fascinating watching her growth as she struggles between her natural instincts of kindness and trust and her newly burgeoning caution and suspicion. But as she opens her eyes, she also opens her heart. The reader is carried along as Eliza and Jean set a trap to catch the murderer, whoever it may be.

For all this, the story unfolds at a leisurely pace. The narrative voice kept me at a distance. I was interested in the whodunnit, but not wholly drawn in to the story.